Last updated Mar. 12, 2023 by Charles Zemub
Whether an experienced flipper or just starting, you must know how to make money flipping furniture. The furniture business is a big one, and there are many different ways that you can approach it.
Whether you want to sell online or in person, the most important thing is to research first, so you don’t lose money on failed business ventures. In this post, we’ll review some of our favorite tips for getting started making money as a professional furniture flipper.
Pick Your Niche (Furniture Type)
The first step to making money flipping furniture is to pick your niche. You don’t want to become overwhelmed with the options, so research and decide on a place that fits your interests and budget.
There are many types of furniture you can consider flipping for a profit: desks, chairs, bookcases, and tables are all popular items that sell well, but there are some pieces people tend not to buy as frequently due to their size or design (like armoires or dressers).
If you’re new at this kind of thing, and let’s be honest: no one starts knowing how investing works, stick with standards like wooden tables or metal chairs until you’ve more experience. Then, once you’ve got it down pat, move up the price ladder if possible.
Create a Brand for Your Business
The brand of your business is the first thing people see when they visit your website or social media account, so it’s essential to ensure that it conveys the right message about what you do and how you do it.
You can create a logo, a slogan, and even design an entire look for your page but make sure that all these elements work together to convey the same message. For example, don’t use clip art in these designs to appear professional and trustworthy as a furniture flipper.
Define Your Target Market
Defining your target market is crucial in learning how to flip furniture for a profit.
The first step is to define what you want to sell and who you want to buy it. If you don’t know who they are and what they like, you will be unable to find them or get them interested in your product.
Here are some questions that will help guide this process:
- What type of customer do I want? (e.g., young professionals)
- Where do these people live? (city vs. suburbia)
- How old are they? (the 20s vs. 30s)
Set Up a Listing Account for Your Business
You will need a listing account when you are ready to list furniture items or other goods for sale. Listing accounts allow you to post photos and descriptions and sell your products on multiple sites.
They come in both paid and free varieties, depending on your site. Typically, a listing account includes online payment options, invoicing tools, and order management systems.
Listing accounts can be used for selling your items on Craigslist or eBay, Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon), Etsy, and more.
Learn How to Photograph Furniture Items
Have a good camera. This is the most important thing: no one will want to buy your furniture if you can’t take good photos. It would help to have a high-quality camera with a powerful lens and good lighting.
Use a tripod. Just like how people love to see masterpieces like paintings at museums, they also want to see beautiful pieces of furniture on their screen, so having a tripod that allows you to focus on specific angles without worrying about shaking or moving around too much will help ensure that your images are crisp and clear.
If your tripod doesn’t have adjustable legs, then adjust them yourself by hanging heavy things from them until it’s level with the ground! You’ll thank me later.
Figure Out Where to Buy Furniture to Flip
You will want to find a reliable source for furniture that is easy to buy, has a good return policy, and has a variety of furniture.
Your best bet is to call around to different stores in your area and ask them if they have any used furniture they are willing to sell at a low price. If you find something you like and can afford, it’s time for the next step.
Learn How Much You Should Invest in Each Piece of Furniture
Now that you’ve learned how to determine if furniture is worth flipping, it’s time to know how much money you should invest in each piece.
There are a few different ways to approach the price of the furniture. The first option is to use your gut instinct! If something looks like it will be worth more than its purchase price, go ahead and buy it; otherwise, pass on it.
The second option is to research online and see what similar pieces have sold recently. You can also check out eBay listings or other online marketplaces that sell used items, such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
Find the Best Way to Get Rid of Old Furniture Items
Once you’ve chosen which furniture item(s) to sell and how much profit margin you’ll need, it’s time to find your buyers. There are numerous ways of doing this, but these are some of the most common:
- Donate It! If your furniture isn’t worth enough for you to make a profit (or if it’s simply not something that people would want), donating the items can be a great way to go from being an eyesore in your life to something that helps others.
- Many charities will pick up donations from residential homes and businesses, so look up organizations in your area that might be interested in what you have before going through this step yourself.
- Sell it to a Friend or Family Member Who Will Re-sell It for You If no one else wants what we’re selling, either because they think it’s too ugly or because they don’t have any use for it? That doesn’t mean we should throw away our old stuff! Instead, maybe we could give some gifts if someone needs them more than us.
Research the Most Popular Furniture Flipping Products
Once you’ve researched the most popular furniture-flipping products, it’s time to start looking for what people are buying.
You can do this by:
- Finding out what people are selling. There are a few ways of doing this:
- First, search on Google or eBay.com for keywords related to your product, such as “used dining table.” This will give you an idea of what’s being sold and how much people ask for it.
- You can also look at listings that have ended recently and see if they were successful. If no one has purchased something within a few weeks, it may not be in high demand.
Create Detailed Descriptions for Your Products
Shopify is a platform specializing in e-commerce sites and allows you to set up an online store to sell your products. For example, you will need to create an online store if you plan on selling furniture online so that customers can purchase it from their homes.
If you have not done this before, think of it as creating a website that sells only one item: your product (furniture). You’ll need to include all the relevant information about the product, such as its dimensions and any flaws or defects (if there are any).
When describing your product’s features, benefits, or specifications, ensure everything is clear and concise so that buyers know exactly what they’re getting when they buy from you. For example: “The sofa has two armchairs with a chaise longue.”
Set Up a Social Media Page for Your Business and Start Advertising Items You Want to Sell
Start a social media page for your business and advertise the furniture you want to sell. If you don’t have one, set up an account on Facebook or Instagram (or both). The most crucial thing in marketing is creating a brand that people will recognize and trust.
Ensure that whatever image, logo, or text appears in your ads is consistent with other marketing materials for your business. For example, if you’re using a particular shade of blue on all of the signs at your store, make sure it’s also used in all digital ads.
Now that you’ve got everything ready on social media platforms, let’s look at how we will get more customers by promoting our new business.
Make Sure You Have a System in Place for Organizing Your Inventory, Accounts, and Tax Information
You’ve done the hard part of buying and selling, but you still have to keep records of everything.
This is especially important if you sell across state lines, which means your state is not where the transaction was completed. If this happens, then the laws of both states apply, and those may not be in sync with each other regarding record-keeping requirements.
It’s also important to keep track of what kind of furniture pieces you’ve bought, who they were purchased from, how much money was paid for them (including shipping), how much they sold for (including shipping), and any other relevant information such as condition or type of wood used in making them.
The best furniture to flip for profit
Flipping furniture for profit can be a great way to make money.
You can find some good deals by purchasing used furniture from yard sales, flea markets, or thrift stores and reselling them to people looking for a discount.
There are many types of furniture that you can flip for profit. These include:
-Furniture made from quality wood
-Antique furniture
-Vintage furniture
Flipping furniture for beginners
One of the best ways to make money is by flipping furniture. Furniture has a high markup, so you can make money when you find a good deal and flip it.
The first thing you want to do is look for a furniture discount. Look at your area’s thrift stores, second-hand shops, and flea markets. You might even be able to find some online if you know where to look.
You’ll want to find the best deal on new or gently-used furniture in good condition. Make sure it’s something you think people would like so you won’t have any problem selling it later.
The next step is going out and buying the furniture. After that, you’ll need some containers to store all the items until you’re ready to sell them.
You can use those areas for storage if there’s room in your garage or basement. Otherwise, use a big plastic storage container. Just make sure it’s clean.
When you’re ready to sell your furniture, advertise it online or go door-to-door with fliers. You could also put up signs at local malls or parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flipping furniture be profitable?
Flipping furniture can be profitable if you do it right.
I have been flipping furniture for a few years and find the process very rewarding.
Can flipping furniture be a full-time job?
Flipping furniture is not a full-time job. At least, that’s what the experts (like me) say. When people are flipping tables for profit, it’s typically a part-time gig they do on top of their other jobs.
For example, I write for several websites and publications, do freelance design work, and run my blog.
Many people find flipping furniture a full-time career by combining it with their jobs creatively.
For example, one friend works at Starbucks in the morning and flips furniture during the afternoons and evenings. Another friend of mine sells his finds on Craigslist while he works at Lamps Plus during the day. Some people even go so far as to run online stores for vintage sale furniture.
Flipping furniture can be done as a side hustle or as a small business, but it’s not feasible as a full-time job unless you have some other way to make money to pay your bills.
Can you make money making furniture?
Given the state of the economy, many people who work in the arts and crafts world have been asking this question, primarily figuring out if they can make a living doing what they love.
When I decided to turn my passion for woodworking into a career, I asked myself this question repeatedly. I finally took the plunge.
As part of my investigation into what would be involved in my new woodworking venture, I started talking with other woodworkers and reading articles online by successful artisans who have been doing it for years.
The consensus was that while you can make money in your chosen field, it’s not as simple as just putting up a website and selling wares on Etsy.
The first thing you’ll need is a plan, one that incorporates a business model that takes into account how much time you’ll spend working on your pieces, how much those pieces will cost to buy or make, and how much you’ll want to charge for them, and how many people will want to buy them.
With all this information, you can decide whether the furniture is worth it. If it is, then build your business from there.
How do I start my own furniture business?
First, you must have an idea for a product people need or want. Then, it helps to think about what you would like to have.
Then, you’ll need to devise a reasonable plan for manufacturing and distributing your product. Of course, it would help if you also considered promoting it and getting the word out there.
With a bit of imagination and hard work, your dream of running a successful business could be a reality in no time.
What is a good side hustle?
The best side hustles allow you to use your existing skills in new ways and enable you to develop new skills. Here are some ideas:
-Freelance work
-Etsy shop
-Online tutoring
-Pet sitting
-Gig economy job (Uber, Post mates, etc.)
What wood projects sell the best?
When you’re running a small woodworking business primarily serving the DIY crowd, you might be tempted to think what sells the best brings in the most money. But there’s more to it than that.
I’ve found that furniture-related projects sell better than unrelated ones. So people buy tables and chairs and cabinets and dressers.
That makes sense, right? People are more likely to want a project they can use in their homes than one they can look at. Storage.
Just because something is related to furniture doesn’t mean it will necessarily sell well. You can probably guess how many orders I get for coat racks, hangers, or shoe trees.
But we’re talking about storage for people’s junk (AKA “furniture”). Shelves are popular, as are bathroom cabinets (there’s even a whole crowd of folks who go nuts for vanities).
Summary
Learning how to make money flipping furniture is essential because, if you’re interested in becoming a furniture flipper, it will help give you an idea of what’s ahead of you. So if this sounds exciting and interests you, then learning how to make money flipping furniture is necessary.
What does this mean for you? It means many steps are involved in making money by flipping furniture. Some people may think they can buy some pieces of furniture at a low price and sell them for more than they paid; however, much more thought goes into making the process successful.
To start with the basics: before beginning, this journey (which will involve many steps), knowing what business model works best for your needs is best.
And there you have it! The 12 steps to making money flipping furniture for a profit. I hope this article has given you some ideas for starting your own business and making extra cash.
It may not be easy initially, but if you keep trying and learning from your mistakes, you’ll eventually find something that works for you.
